February 5, 2025
Thank you, Mr. President, and may you have a good presidency this month, sir. And thank you, SRSG Haysom, Ambassador Gituai, and Mr. Yakani for your briefings. They were very enlightening.
The people of South Sudan deserve peace, freedom to participate in civic and political processes, and a government responsive to their needs. Instead, transitional government leaders have consistently failed to take the minimal steps required to create the conditions necessary to bring the transitional period to a peaceful conclusion. They have also failed to use public revenue transparently to address public needs, while demanding the international community continue to fund basic public services.
Despite significant international support, including from the UN, AU, and IGAD on key election issues, we see President Salva Kiir, First President Riek Machar, and other South Sudanese political leaders have thus far collectively failed to meet the standards necessary for free, fair and peaceful elections to take place.
South Sudan’s leaders have not demonstrated political will to seriously move toward elections, nor demonstrated a commitment to political and civic space. In fact, they have made matters worse, as evidenced by their giving the National Security Service (NSS) warrantless arrest and detention powers.
January 9, 2025, marked the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), a pivotal moment in South Sudan’s history that brought hope to a people long ravaged by war and oppression. However, two decades later, the CPA’s promise of peace, prosperity, and a responsive government remains unfilled. Instead of being a cause for celebration, the anniversary was a reminder of the failure of South Sudan’s leaders to meet the expectations of their own people and of the international donor community who have long provided their country with support.
We call on the transitional government to act without further delay to start to transparently and responsibly use public revenue for appropriate public purposes, rather than to benefit a small, corrupt elite. We call on them to open civic and political space as a path towards free, fair and peaceful elections and allow citizens to meaningfully engage in domestic government, to fund electoral institutions, establish the necessary unified forces, and engage high-level dialogue in Juba where all parties reject violence as a political tool.
South Sudanese leaders, both signatories and non-signatories to the 2018 peace agreement, must take the opportunity of the Tumaini talks in Nairobi to discuss a path forward to peace. We welcome Kenya’s decision to continue to host these talks, which are all the more important in the absence of signs of serious effort by Juba-based leaders to meet peace commitments.
A consistent system to ensure appropriate tax exemptions for foreign assistance, UN agencies, and diplomatic missions must be put in place. We urge the transitional government to honor commitments to ensure aid reaches those who need it most, and to lower the risks and costs of delivering aid in South Sudan.
We will be paying close attention to all developments on the ground with a view to the upcoming UNMISS mandate renewal in April of this year.
The United States remains committed to the South Sudanese people, and to working closely with UNMISS, the transitional government council members, and all stakeholders, to promote peace and prosperity for the country and the region.
And with that I thank you, Mr. President.